LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR MODERNIZING REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE IN UKRAINE UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of legal mechanisms for modernizing the rehabilitation assistance system in Ukraine under martial law. It examines key aspects of regulatory and legal reform, which involves a strategic shift away from the traditional medical-biological model, focused primarily on nosological diagnosis and disability status, and the introduction of a modern biopsychosocial paradigm. This model focuses on the patient as an active participant in the rehabilitation process, taking into account their functional abilities, needs, social integration, and quality of life.

The article discusses the legal basis for the formation of a comprehensive rehabilitation care system, in particular the significance of the Law of Ukraine «On Rehabilitation in the Field of Health Care», subordinate acts, and regulatory documents governing the activities of multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams (MDRT). Emphasis is placed on the implementation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as the main tool for assessing the patient’s condition, planning interventions, and evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures. Attention is focused on the legal consolidation of the role of multidisciplinary teams in ensuring the integrity and continuity of the rehabilitation pathway, as well as on the importance of integrating the medical and social sectors in the patient’s recovery process.

Particular attention is paid to the introduction of digital technologies in the field of rehabilitation, in particular, the electronic processing of documents for the provision of assistive devices, which increases the transparency, efficiency, and continuity of service delivery. The article also examines the financial mechanism for providing rehabilitation services through the Medical Guarantees Program and the use of a package approach to payment, which encourages healthcare facilities to provide high-quality and affordable services.

The article highlights the main problems and challenges of the reform, in particular the parallel existence of the Individual Rehabilitation Plan (IRP) and the Individual Rehabilitation Program (IRP), regulatory restrictions on access to intensive rehabilitation, uneven infrastructure provision, and a shortage of qualified specialists. It concludes that the success of the reform depends on further elimination of regulatory gaps, strengthening interagency cooperation, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring sustainable financing.